THE LEVER ACT 



feature of the bill is the wisest feature of the whole matter and 

 ought to commend itself to state and Federal agencies alike. And 

 so, speaking for the Association of Agricultural Colleges, I should 

 say without hesitation that that is a very desirable and wise feature." 

 Several succinct statements by congressmen serve to 

 clinch the general agreement to this proposition. 



The following extracts are from the addresses of Sena- 

 tors Smith of Georgia, Sterling of South Dakota, and Repre- 

 sentative Hughes of Georgia. They still further define the 

 plan for co-operation. 



"The bill provides that a plan for the work must be submitted 

 by the college of agriculture to the Department of Agriculture here, 

 and receive the approval of the Secretary of the Department, or else 

 for the next year not a dollar can be drawn from the public 

 Treasury." 



"The essence of this bill is cooperation — cooperation between 

 the Agricultural Department of the Government and the agricultural 

 colleges of the State ; cooperation imposed and enforced by law. By 

 plain implication, if not by express terms, this is the condition of 

 the grant, the basis upon which the appropriations of the bill are 

 made." 



**The Lever Bill will cause such cooperation between state and 

 Union, through the agricultural colleges, accelerating and intensi- 

 fying agricultural education by the only method that can possibly 

 reach the adult farmer. He will hear, but he must see to be con- 

 vinced. Demonstrations convince, and arouse latent action and in- 

 spire hope, and progress is the result." 



The executive committee of the American Agricultural 

 Colleges and Experiment Stations was active in promoting 

 extension legislation. Farmers' Institutes, movable schools 

 and agricultural trains had been promoted by these institu- 

 tions. The farmers' institute workers had organized an 

 association in 1896. In 1903 a specialist on farmers' insti- 

 tutes was appointed by the United States Department of 

 Agriculture, and assigned to the office of experiment stations. 



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